Bruce bemoans lack of firepower

03 May 2009 08:49:31

Wanderers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was in top form, particularly in the first half, as he twice denied Hugo Rodallega, once with the aid of an upright, turned Charles N'Zogbia's strike around a post and also tipped over Mido's long-range effort.
However, the crossbar came to Wigan's rescue before the interval when Bolton defender Gary Cahill's deflected strike rebounded back of the woodwork.
Wigan have scored only seven goals since the turn of the year, and have found the net just 15 times in 17 matches at home this season.
"We should have been out of sight in the first half. The first 10 minutes or so we have had three or four opportunities and haven't taken them," he said.
"If you look at our Achilles heel it is that statistic that is the alarming one.
"I think there is only Middlesbrough who have scored fewer goals than us and Middlesbrough are in the bottom three.
"We rely too much on our defensive organisation - which we have been off a little bit over the last couple of weeks but thankfully that was back today.
"We can't disguise the fact we need to score. You can't just keep saying the goalkeeper has played well, although Jaaskelainen was probably man of the match."
Bolton manager Gary Megson accepted his side could have been behind by half-time, although he said Matt Taylor's goal disallowed for offside just before the interval should have been allowed to stand.
"I thought the first half Wigan were much better than us. They were on the front foot all the time," he said.
"Jussi got a wake-up call with the first one (Rodallega's effort which squirmed through his hands but rebounded off a post) as he said his studs got caught in the ground a little bit.
"But after that he was terrific and made some really good saves.
"Second half the people in front of him started playing as I would expect them to play and I don't remember him having anything to do - which is how it should be.
"I felt the game could have got away from us in the first 45, although I've seen the chance Taylor put away and, although you'd have to have eyes like a hawk, he was onside.
"He was level but it was difficult without the technology we are always talking about.
"Second half I thought we were the strongest team but we didn't manage to finish."
Megson refused to accept his side were safe from relegation, although they are eight points above the bottom three.
"It is not enough because mathematically it is not enough," he added.
"But it is a good point because it gets us further away from the bottom three at the moment."